Hot Rod

Quite a debut for Mr. Barajas last night…I know that we expected him to provide a boost to the offense from the behind the plate, but hard to imagine he would have done what he did yesterday that helped lead to a win. And the fact that he grew up loving Vin Scully makes it even more cool for him to have a debut like that.

And, it’s actually nice that A.J. Ellis got to make the trip to Milwaukee, where he makes his offseason home, and spend a few days there with his wife and kids before reporting back to Triple-A. For those who hadn’t read about it when it happened, he actually watched the birth of his son via webcam earlier this year because he is that dedicated to this organization. Now, he’s getting a little time with the little guy and you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer person in baseball than A.J.

Also, congrats are in order to Eric Collins, who was named one of the Big 10 Network’s lead football broadcasters today.

And finally, for those still interested in the Inside the Dodgers Tour, please see below for more details. Right now, I believe we only have about nine people, which I think makes it clear that this doesn’t really need to be an annual event. But, I’m happy to host those nine people and anyone else interested should email bretts@ladodgers.com

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Nice title Josh!
I did not email about the tour since I have my season tickets and I have tour vouchers. I would take the tour again though and I’ll be at the game as usual
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com

Hi Everybody
Wow what a debut for Rod Barajas and to have been a Dodger fan growing up to booth.
I see Manny is waivering in the air or something like that. LOL
Later on that.
Hope Kuroda can keep pitching like he has and the Dodger’ll give him some support for a change, before he leaves.
We’re facing a guy who the Dodgers never supported much, either, Randy Wolf.
I figure Collins had to be better at something.
LET’S GO YA BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!

SEH!!!!!!! What the fish?!!!!! This is so absolutely ridiculous!!! All I want to do is communicate with my ITD friends and say “fabulous catch Andre”. But noooooooo, these fishing submission errors are just a nightmare for me tonight.

I could understand it if they wanted to see a couple pitchers in different game situations to evaluate who stays and goes next season, and what or what not they’re capable of, but I guess all Joe wanted to do was ensure we wouldn’t have anyone available for extra innings.

This must be a mistake. I’m shock when I seen this but since Dotel came to the Dodgers he has pitch well but of course he have to be wild and his IR/IS suck this year. His k/9 and k/bb are down because of his wildness.

“If that agreement is upheld, after a 30-year marriage, Frank would end up with assets worth in excess of $1 billion, whereas Jamie would be left with assets worth approximately $70 million, which are saddled with debt that she cannot maintain,” Jamie’s lawyers wrote in Wednesday’s filing.

Good Night Jhall!!! Always a pleasure sharing Submission Error Hell (SEH) with you!! Have a wonderful tomorrow. Dodgers are playing early ……11:00 here on the west coast. Maybe we can celebrate a much needed sweep.

Good Morning!! For some of you I know this is impossible not to know these things, but here is a fun tidbit maybe you didn’t know about.

On thhis day in 1939- Major league baseball was televised for the first time when experimental station W2XBS broadcast a doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. We have come a long way .. even Little League games are on TV now…

Also, here is Blue Rising Lasorda with his new entry for #4 (4 days until Divorce Court officially begins)….

4 should really be for Duke Snider. On a happier day we would honor him. Instead we are going to mention Frank and Jamie McCourts 4 houses in Los Angeles. This includes purchasing Babyface’s Beverly Hills mansion for 20 million and Courtney Cox and David Arquette’s malibu mansion for 27 million. I wish the 4 talk could end their but no, The McCourts also own 4 more homes outside LA, including a condo in Vail (bought for $6 million), a lot in Cabo San Lucas ($4.6 million), a place at the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana ($7.7 million) and a 100-acre Cape Cod estate. Yet tonight George Sherrill handed off the ball to Octavio Dotel…4 DAYS. THE COURTHOUSE. 8AM.

Hello Everyone at ITD
The Dodgers have been doing what we’ve wanted them to do for quite some time. Stringing some wins together. Two straight and 3 out of 4. Oddly enough it was Kershaw’s game that ended up in the right column.
Well, today’s another day, and regardless of everything else, we need 16 games to end up at least .500.
I know that isn’t much of a goal, but you have to start small.
The Dodgers are currently 3 games above .500 and I’d look forward to see that number go up, instead of the other way around as been happening since the All*Star break.
Although it’s hard to do, I think it’s best not pay attention to the teams ahead of us.
LET’S GO DODGERS one win at a time.

Sorry OBF, but given that we’ve gone from 7.5 games to 5.5 games back in the Wild Card in just two days, I can’t ignore the scoreboard. So here it is: Astros 2-0 over Phillies after 1 1/2 innings.
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The problem with the WC? We’re still behind four other teams – that’s a tough challenge to take on. The only way to win in that challenge is to string together a bunch of wins from the Bums.
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Murphy’s Law dictates that we will keep winning just long enough to convince Ned and Frank that we should not be sellers on Aug 31st. Then on Sept 1 we start our losing streak all over again. Then we’ll be stuck holding the bag on Manny.

Crash1627~ I’m not saying we’re out of it but from where we stand now it’s best to concentrate on winning one game at a time and looking at smaller reachable goals and not be looking for help from other teams.

My last comment (I’ve been lock out of here for a while, I hope I get in this time), came in late, when I said that Kemp made a good try, I meant trying to score in the 4th inning. That catch was awesome.
What did I say yesterday about Blake still being a HR threat?

Josh – just sent my e-mail to Brett for two for the tour! I’m sorry many people can’t go, but I’m thrilled to go with my wife, and love my team in spite of the issues we have faced both on and off the field. I will see you on Sept. 4th! As I think the first person to throw the idea of the tour out there last season, I am grateful to you for what you do for our team, and for having put this together. –Mike

Sorry Nells, I was commenting on the commentor about Dee Gordon. I think they we’re a little overzealous about Dee right now.
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And its a fine pedigree Dee would come from when talking about farm developed SSs: Offerman, Izturis, Hu, DeJesus Sr., Guzman, Castro (I’d add Landestoy, but I think he was 2B.)
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This club doesn’t exactly have a reputation of developing worthwhile young shortstops in the last three decades.

By brownpaperbag1 on August 25, 2010 2:29 PM

I had to bring this up from yesterday. BPB was you talking about Joel Guzman or not?

I am also happy with the sweep. Let’s go on a big winning streak to finish the season on a high note. Maybe the Dodgers knock someone out of playoffs. I am not going to worry about being buyers or sellers. The season may be over as far as making the playoffs but I would like to enjoy what is left of season as much as possible.

I thought Joe made the right moves with the bullpen especially in the 5th inning when he used Belisaro and Sherrill for one batter each. I thought that’s what was needed in that situation and each pitcher go his man out and the Dodgers got out of the inning with the lead.

I really don’t think Guzman had a chance to prove him yet with that small sample size that he had in the major with the Dodgers and Rays. I guess he on that list because he still in the minor but I remember Little try to convert him to an OF. Maybe Josh Bell would fall in that group someday.

WooHoo!!! Win Streak!!! Way to go team!!! I just hope this doesn’t give us alot of false hope of actually being a wild card contender. I’m not saying they can’t make a run at it. The problem is not how many games we have to make up. It is that there are 4 good teams ahead of us. If it was just one or two, maybe. Between the G’nats, Phillies, Rockies, and Cardinals, we may catch one, but not all of them. We need to remain sellers and try to unload salary and get some decent prospects to restock the farm!!! JMO!!! I hope you are all having a great evening!!!

Hi’Ya Trumom and Beav!! Well, darn!! I’m not surprised there were no takers for Sherrill!!! I hope we are still shopping him however. Alot of stupid trades happen with contending teams trying to catch lightening in a bottle at the trade deadline!!!!

I sure hope more than 9 people are going on the ITD tour. Well, 11 with Mr. Piano Man?s two! But hey, if only 11 are going, then those 11 should have a lot of fun! I?m looking forward to it. I was going to bring my mom, but since her accident a while ago, she just doesn?t want to exert herself too much. As it is, she?s missing a lot of Dodger games (last home stand and the upcoming home stand). So my husband will be going with me again this year. Josh, it?ll be great to see you on the 4th. I hope that there will be a last second rush of ITDers that decide to come on the tour!

Emma ? Thx for the message. I got it and replied to your e-mail. Thx again.

Great that the Dodgers swept the Brew Crew. It?s nice to see our Boys in Blue hitting and pitching the way they are all capable of. Let?s just see how things go in Coors Field.

I think we will know for sure tomorrow. I believe someone said that Friday was the day (especially for Manny). Is it the final day for all waivers? Or just for our team? I feel kind of stupid on the entire waiver system.

You know, all of these fishing references. You know, I?ve never been much of a fan of fishing. One has to get up too early in the morning to go fishing. But ITD sure knows how to make it funny!!! Now enchanted, I know where you?re coming from, but remember, I?m inherently a non-violent person. But if I do see Frank and/or Ned (don?t hold your breath-I won?t be), I?ll give them a nasty glare. Is that okay?

Hey Trumom! Sorry you?re in SHE again. I?ve been having my own ?redirect loop? problems. I never can understand why we seem to be having such problems on ITD. To this day, ITD is the only MLB log that I have these problems; no one else. I?m on Emma?s from time to time, and I never get this with her blog. That must just mean that us ITDers are ?special.?

Perhaps Trumom! I just can?t see how this can be going on for such a long time now. I mean, how long have we been dealing with this stuff? Let?s see, I started posting (consistently) in 2008. It?s been at least that long, hasn?t it?

CP ~ it has really become a problem more since before Spring Training. I remeber when dodgereric and a bunch if us posted all day long to break the record for number of posts…we had no submission errors or any probkems then.

Enchanted, yeah I heard about that contract extension. And Manny and Borass? They certainly deserve each other. If any player/agent combo was ever fit for each other than Manny and Borass, the game of baseball is in deep doo-doo. And jhall, it?ll be a sad, sad thing if our suspicions come true. I can easily see Ned say, ?Hey, we?re still in this race and I?m just going to hold onto Manny.? I love it that we are playing better baseball right now, but I know that it?s not going to last for long. I see the Dodgers continue to play this way thru Labor Day, and then turn back into a pumpkin after that?

I guess I’m somewhat lucky!!! I can still stay in the hunt rooting for the Reds as their success will not effect my Dodgers!! Also, college football starts next weekend. GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trumom and Nelly, you are honorary Buckeyes!!!! I’d take you on my team any day!!!

Oh yeah jhall! At this point, I would love nothing better than to make sure the gnats don?t get into the playoffs. The Pads will be there, but I want to wreck the gnat?s chances, for sure. I did hear that we have scouts looking at the White Sox? minor leagues, so there is always hope?

Well, have fun with your Buckeyes jhall! My alma mater is CSUN; not a big college at all. But hey, they made things interesting against Memphis a couple of NCAA tourneys (basketball) ago. I?m happy for the Reds; I really am. It?s nice to see perennial bottom-dwellers rise to the top of the heap! And I?ve ALWAYS thought Joey Votto is a VERY GOOD PLAYER. I like him a lot. I hope he knocks Pujols off the the MVP mantle this year?

Thx Jhall; I?ve always enjoyed your comments and company too! As for me, it?s a matter of same old, same old with me. I?m still looking for a job, but hopefully something will come around soon. I?ve taken and passed a couple of tests for school district jobs (one with Ventura Unified, the other Santa Paula Elementary). Now I?ve got oral tests on Tuesday (VUSD) and Wednesday (SPESD). Just keep praying for me and these tests next week. My business is still looking for clients; tough times there too. But I still keep trying.

Well Jhall, I know it?s tomorrow where you are right now, but now I?m getting tired. Go figure; it?s just past 10 PM on Thursday. Oh well. My energy level isn?t what it was a few short years ago. It?s been a pleasure talking with you this fine evening Jhall! We?ll talk more later? Good night?

Keep the faith CP!! You’ll do well!! Good people will prevail. You’re in my thoughts and prayers!!! “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me”. Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be!!!

Well, I only listened to a few innings of the game today at lunchtime so I was not aware Andre was ejected from the game until I was on my way home tonight from Back to School Night. It was his first of his career, and I was kind of proud to hear about it. I love his emotion. At least you won’t have to worry about him becoming complacent with his performance, and I don’t think he will be accused anytime soon of not caring about winning.

I keep reading that Joe says he earned that ejection, and it will be discussed. I am not sure what that means, but the Ethieraholics are very proud of you Andre!!!

I think oldbrooklyn’s ( nice jersey, by the way ) advice about not looking at the teams ahead of you is good, but fortunately we do play teams ahead of us in the wild card race in the next three series. Too late to think about the playoffs? Maybe. Probably. One day at etc, etc. But as disgusted and P.O.’d as I was two weeks ago, I don’t want to throw in the towel. If somebody wants our players on the wire, then let them step up and pay for them. If we pay Manny his 3-4 mil, so what? By todays standards that’s nothing in MLB. I’d keep him and see what happens.

I believe that the proper thing to do is let the White Sox keep Manny, let them pay his remaining salary, we won’t get anything or anybody in return any ways. Take our chances with Podsednik leading off, hopefully Furcal will be back in the next week to 10 days, and put some heat on Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Blake and Barajas to produce for 30 games. Manny is leaving any ways at the end of the season, he hasn’t shown any fire since returning from the DL, he looks to be going through the motions, so why not see now what this team is made of without Manny. Let’s see Torre manage for 30 games, and I believe our chances aren’t any worse than if we keep Manny, who is always one trot down the first base line from going on the DL again.

Fantastic post, North. Now I’m reading on the homepage, Lilly was put on waivers. Might not mean much since Sherrill was put on waivers a long time ago. Then again, Frank could think we a are a sinking ship.

Let us not forget the White Sox were wanting to get Manny on August 31st while leaving us holding the tab, minus $1 million for compensation. $3-4 million is not a lot in baseball terms, but in terms of the McCourt-run Dodgers, that’s an astronomical sum not to invest into buying the lot next to their house in Cabo.

The Dodgers are still in this, in spite of the mess the McCourts have made of the team. In spite of the apathetically pathetic hypocrisy of the coaching staff. In spite of every hurdle the overzealous L.A. Media throw in their way.

Some might want the team to fail to spite McCourt, just as the left wingnuts wanted America to fail to spite Bush not too long ago, and the right wingnuts want America to fail to spite Obama today. Just as I believe we should want BETTER for this country in spite of who’s filling the seat in the Oval Office, we should want BETTER for the Los Angeles Dodgers than to just throw this season in the trash because the owner’s as fresh as a Summer’s Eve. This team, these guys, if they can get it, they deserve it. And like I’ve said all along, those guys in the clubhouse are the only ones who know whether they can get it or not.

McCourt’s got too much riding on the perceived future attendance to just let this team fade away.

This team’s done too much fighting in the trenches to just throw it in.

The new additions are hungry for the ring, and they sure as heck can’t do it alone.

I’m a selfish muthafisher, I want the ring for the team, AND I want new ownership. If the McCourts had their cake and ate it too for 6 years, why can’t we for a couple of months?

NSB, great post as usual. Following sports is really just another form of entertainment and as a fan, I expect to be entertained. What better way to entertain the fans than to make the remainder of the season as interesting as possible.

Hi Eveyrbody,
I’ve been using the same pencil to keep score ever since this latest streak began. It’s now down to 3 1/4 inches, not counting the eraser.
No, I didn’t start when it was brand new. Now I don’t know what will happen first. The pencil finishes or the streak ends.
I think Bear is right, they don’t want Manny on the field too much, in case he gets hurt just before the trade. But It won’t make sense not to use him.
Well, it’s time for the team to get back to work on that
winning streak.
KEEP IT GOING DODGERS!!!!!

Wow sick the Rockies average 8.4 runs of support at home However, defeating Jimenez a second time could be tough. Although Jimenez has a lower ERA on the road (2.31) than at Coors (3.09), he is 8-0 at home and the Rockies have provided him with an average of 8.4 runs of support.

The tragically comical portion of a potential transaction with Chicago is that the White Sox could have each of the last three big free agent outfielders signed by the Dodgers, with Manny joining Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones. The Dodgers will be paying Pierre through 2012, Ramirez through 2013, and Jones through 2014.

Speaking with reporters in the dugout before Friday night’s game at Colorado, Colletti gave no indication as to whether he was on the verge of trading Ramirez to the White Sox, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Tony Jackson.

Colletti told USA Today earlier this week that he was “not inclined” to trade any players at a point when the Dodgers are on the fringes of contention for a playoff spot.

Asked about that comment Friday, Colletti said, “That was where I was at the time.”

Asked where he is now, Colletti said, “I’m in the same place right now.”

Asked what could possibly change that before next week, Colletti said, “How we play.”

I know, I know #1: It’s most likely all just a cruel tease, but we’re only 4 out of the wildcard with, what, 33 left?

I know, I know #2: There’s 4 teams ahead of us. But no one is setting the world on fire.

I know, I know #3: We’ve dug a big hole and nothing we’ve done this year makes anyone think we’re capable of it, but…… the starters are still doing a good job, the pen is coming around, the bats are starting to make some noise.

All we need is to play .700 ball for a few weeks and have the others play .500.

“I’m not going to take any at-bats or any playing time from Juan Pierre to give Manny.”

Doncha just l-o-v-e that crazy Guillen?

By dodgereric on August 27, 2010 10:29 PM

THIS made me laugh……….Now, I was never thrilled with us getting Manny,…………….BUT I certainly know the difference between Manny as a hitter and Juan Pierre as a hitter. However, I guess instead of taking Juan Pierre’s at-bats he can just take Andruw’s at-bats.

I didn’t see any of the game tonight as I was enjoying a much needed and deserved TGIF with some of my fellow teaching collegues, but from the updates through my phone, it seems we had a very good 8th and 9th inning. It is nice to see we still have what it takes to get those runs in the late innings again.

BTW – we had Back to School Night last night, and my new set of parents absolutely LOVED my baseball wall. It’s getting bigger and new and improved each year as my mind starts thinking throughout the summer in how to make it better. Last year’s class just didn’t have the interest like years past had, but the class had that personality of not caring about much of anything. This group, however, is just so much fun, and they are loving the baseball themes throughout the classroom. It’s a complete 180 from the group I had last year where it was just a matter of measuring the days in degrees of bad, with a handful of good days in the entire year.

I almost didn’t read this story about mccourt giving 10,000 tickets away to the LAPD because I thought, “What a cooincidence! A big-hearted giveaway right before his divorce case goes to trial? Can you say b-r-i-b-e-r-y?” But now I’m really glad I did. Skip the BS in the public relations story if you want, but there are some great comments by the skeptical public down below.

Just an aside. Josh, we appreciate everything you do for this blog and ITD….. I would love to attend an ITD tour in the future. However, I’m in Ohio!!! If I was in California, Arizona, or Neveda, I would do my darnedest to be there. I just need alot of lead time to get time off work and make arrangements. Thanks again for all your efforts!!!

I’m happy we are somewhat alive in the wild card race. It is cool to still be alive in the race, given, how abyssmally our offense and bullpen have been since June… Realistically, however, we are toast!! We’ve got the Phillies and Cards ahead of us. Even if they make a surge and win their divisions, that leaves the Braves and Reds. It’s possible, but, not probable…. Trade Manny!!!! I was listening to Ken Rosenthal and he stated, Manny really hasn’t done anything for the Dodgers this year, let him go. It is time for Ethier, Kemp, and Loney to take the reins and step up. That is our future. We put too many eggs in Martins basket. Get a catcher and see if Martin can recover from hip surgery and play 2nd or 3rd base. I don’t see him as an everyday catcher!!!!

Hi’Ya Sparky!!! Don’t damage the merchandise!!!! Thank you Manny, good luck, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!!!!! Just hoping for a decent prospect. If the White Sox eat all his salary and extend him, I doubt we get much. However, it is time to move on.

Either you play Manny and go balls-out trying to win, or you dump all of your potential FAs and used up vets and try to get younger. Its one or the other. But what they’re doing is like everything else Ned and the rest of management does – half-aspirined.

And what did I post under this article after I read it?
I heard of this rumor when Byrnes was fired. For God’s sake Dodgers, DON’T give the D-backs permission to interview White!!! I’d love to have White as OUR GM, not Ned. Logan is a much better evaluator of talent…

Good Morning/Afternnon ITDland ~ I really have no visions of us reaching the playoffs…I just want to finish the season ahead of the Giants. Would love to shut their announcers up, once and for all! If you think Charlie is bad….just try listening to them for a season.

As I was saying to Nells this morning, management tells you how much Manny means to the offense, then they find excuse after excuse not to play him. They tell you they’re still in it to win, then start Pathednik and watch the offense sputter. Now I could care less what Manny does or if he plays, but its all a bunch of bullfrog. If any of you had any lingering doubts about the total dysfunction of team management before, it should be pretty clear to you now, maybe even more clear when they end up not trading any of their FAs or used up vets and wind up with nothing.

It also leads to the conclusion that either JoJo’s as stupid as I think he is OR he’s an equal partner in the manure business with Frank and Ned.

Hi’Ya Trumom and Beav!!! Trumom, I don’t care if we finish ahead of the G’nats!!! It’s not likely. However, I think we can wreck their playoff hopes. I would like to have a big hand in that. Beav, its alot of fishing soap by a trio of aspirins!!!

What’s so amazing is that his incompetence has been rewarded while the team on the field has been handcuffed as a result of his lack of skills. Of course, we know that Jojo the genius is happy because he’s up to his eyebrows in PVL’s that won’t be moved so the farm system can be at least somewhat replenished. It’s enough to drive a fan to drink – not that any of us really need excuses :)

I still can’t figure out with a team that has so many holes (especially of the “A” variety), why you would trade the farm away for what we got that ultimately didn’t solve any problems and made no bit of difference on the field or in the standings. All Ned did was replace the same type player he let go before the start of the season.

Great points this morning once again. My thinking is whatever it takes to make sure Frank, Ned and Joe are no longer wearing Dodger Blue I am for, and if it means not making it to the post season, than so be it. However, like Tru, if at all possible, I don’t want to see the gnats there either. Right now, they are doing the damage to themselves, but we do have a chance to help that cause next weekend when we play them.

I was in my local grocery store, and on top of hearing it from all the gnat fan workers (which most are very nice about the whole thing), there is one Yankee fan as well. He certainly isn’t my favorite since he claims I always ruin his day when he sees me in my Dodger blue, and not because I am a Dodger fan, but because we stole Joe from his team. I tell him everytime, you are more than welcome to have him back, please!! However, yesterday, he made a mention of how lucky we are to be keeping Don Mattingly in baseball. I told him, “you can have him back too”. We don’t want anymore pinstripes on our team!”

Frank needs to be made to sell the team,and then whoever buys the team needs to get rid of Ned and anyone who is Yankee or Gnat related. Start from scratch with personnel who bleed Dodger Blue and want to go back to the Dodger Way of doing things.

That is great Sparkleplenty!!! Good luck with your new class and internship. It sounds like you will be busy.

I have gotten to the point when I am not even mad at the players for playing the way they do. Matt, Andre and James have been through this crap for three years in a row now of not knowing what plans their Owner/GM (and manager for that matter) have for this team. Collie said it best when he said Frank and Ned have no plan, and without a plan, this is what happens. There aren’t many jobs out there, including mine, where you can just show up just to show up. You have to have at least a plan of what is going to happen at your job today, tomorrow, next week, next month and for some cases, next year. I am not saying the plan will always work out (it certainly didn’t work for me last year), but these two (three if you include Joe) don’t seem to have a plan at all. It is more of a “let’s show up and see what the day brings” kind of attitude. However, I bet Frank has his plan on what is going to happen tomorrow morning when he walks into the courthouse because right now, all that seems to matter is his divorce court and how much money the Dodgers franchise is making for him.

Honestly, if you’re in need of BP help and you’ve got McDonald and Lambo to use as bait and all you come back with is a Dotel, I think its more than fair to question the intelligence of your GM.
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Its idiotic moves like this that’s a big reason why this team is where it is today.
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I can’t believe any organization buys into Ned’s bullfrog that the team is fluid and you get the necessary pieces at the trade deadline. That’s no way to build a winner, but then Ned’s proven he can’t build a winner anyway, nor have the wherewithall to put the right extra components together when they do have a chance.
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Mercifully, the Rox may have just put the final nail in the coffin. Hopefully the next pine box will be for Frank’s ownership.

I, for one, will miss Manny. His not talking to the media this year affects me not in the least. I wouldn’t have talked to those A-holes, either! Good luck on the south side…that’s where I grew up until I was eight-years-old, starting oit as a Sox fan.

Without getting into any details, this has been an extraordinarily hard and sad year for me during which many of the things and people I have come to rely on have to greater and lesser degrees failed me, and I have in many ways failed myself. (One of the exceptions to this by the way has been my brother Leekfink who has not failed me).
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A seemingly trivial thing that could have provided a measure of comfort to me is the Dodgers organization. And I’m not just talking about winning a lot of games. I don’t need the Dodgers to win.
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But I sure would have loved them to be the Dodgers I grew up with, the O’Malley Dodgers (aplogies to OldBrooklyn), the Dodgers who win or lose ran a team/organization worthy of my undying love and devotion.
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That organization is long gone. Dead. And about the only things that remain of it are a stadium and a uniform.
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My love for baseball will never die, but my love for the Dodgers is waning. Maybe it’s time to focus my fandom on individual players — be they Dodgers or otherwise — who I admire both as ballplayers and human beings. At least unless and until we get new ownership that I can believe in.
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Well, it’s always dangerous to put any human being or any group of human beings (like a team) on a pedestal. The fall from that pedestal is pretty much inevitable. So I guess idolizing individual players has its perils too.
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Hey guys, I have admired the deep and personal friendships that have developed out of casual ITD friendships. Some of the things that you guys have done for each other have been wonderful and amazing.
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How can I say this? … Although I share some pretty personal thoughts here. Those thoughts are Dodgers-related, and I hope they are of some value to my fellow Dodgers fans. For my own part, I pretty much want to keep my ITD relationships baseball relationships. So, let’s just suffice it to say that I have turned a corner in my rotten summer, and I still have some great friends and family who are there for me. Oh, and of course, my dog Gibson. If anybody wants to throw up a prayer or two for me, I would appreciate that.
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Beyond that, I haven’t yet completely reached the point where I can’t summon the enthusiasm to say “GO BLUE!”

From what I’ve read, it looks like Manny was not at all happy about his being benched these past few games. It seems to me that Joe could have played him. Instead, he actually turned the clock back to the old “JP days” by keeping the single hitting Pathednik in left. Fine. Whatever he wants. But Joe did the same thing to Orlando Hudson last year. I know that Manny was not our favorite, but he has contributed during his time with the Dodgers. His most important contribution was that he showed our guys that you can have fun in this game. For that, I thank him and wish him well.

lny4loney – You will ALWAYS be thought of as an intrigal part to this ITD family, whether you were coming on everyday, (you as Martinloneykemp and your brother leekfink), with all of your wonderful chants and, of course, the James Loney song (that is part of ITD history now) or you come on once in a blue moon with your thoughts and feelings about the Dodgers of yesterday and today. Along with many, I always look forward to seeing what your perspective is on the Dodgers. With that said, you will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

As for Manny, like I have said many times, I am not a Manny fan, but I do recognize what he has meant to some (if not all) of the players on this team. I am not sure what has happened these last 4 days, but I have a feeling Manny would have played if he was asked to play. I think he would have done that for the fans that really do love him. Like JP, I wish him well in Chicago, but may the Twins win the division. Fuentes (our local star) had his first save for the Twins yesterday (after being traded from the Angels), and he is actually playing for a team I can cheer for now. I couldn’t cheer for the Rox or the Angels as they are rivals to the Dodgers.

Shad – you are right!!! We certainly didn’t expect to get anything, but maybe we were still holding out some hope our owner and GM wouldn’t be total losers, but I guess that raising the bar a bit too high.

How ironic. After leaving Boston under accusation he quit on his team, Manny Ramirez leaves Los Angeles after his team(‘s management) quit on him.

The concrete end of the best Dodger era of the past two decades. Maybe a prelude to further de-Boston-ization to come?

Joe Girardi, a year removed from managing the Yank’s 27th championship, in striking distance taking the division come October, can’t quiet the chatter that the Illinois native will return to manage his beloved Cubbies.

Which will leave a spot on the Bronx bench for fan-favorite Donnie Baseball.

Wherever Joe ends up, it probably won’t be in Chavez Ravine, which, between Manny’s suspension last year and the looming divorce and shrinking payroll this season, has become the kind of dizzying media circus he was trying to escape in New York.

Sure, ownership would roll out the red carpet for a front office spot for him, but who knows what ownership will be even within the next 12 hours, let alone just one season. I’m sure he’d like some security at this stage of his life, and there’s plenty of places in this league that would take care of Joe Torre.

There’s still a microscopic chance we can make the playoffs, stranger things have happened and will happen… just probably not to us, we have our fill of stranger things happening tomorrow morning.

Barring a historically epic comeback, I shudder to think how a club with so many holes would look in the first round of the playoffs, shades of the 90’s in mind.

This is all gonna make one hell of a movie someday. Only Hollywood could generate three thrill-filled acts on par with the 2008-’10 Dodgers.

Unfortunately, the play ends on a tragic note not unlike King Lear, a kingdom having to rebuild after weathering senile rulers, fools, backstabbing familial squabbles and the soul-crushing death of the last bastion of purity and hope in the realm.

One thrill-filled ride, and it isn’t over yet.

The only thing certain: When the smoke clears, the Los Angeles Dodgers will still be standing. ]

Over time, this incarnation of the Brooklyn Base Ball Club has shaken off greater men and greater pains than anything this latest, greatest McCourt Photo-Op could have to offer.

“And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes,
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon…”
– Pink Floyd.

Evening ITD!
I will miss Manny. He gave us some thrilling moments in 2008. He was good to his teamates. I love how he would touch their hair when they did well. He was also good to us fans. He even gave little Deuce a signed bat. It was time to say goodbye to Manny. I wish him well with the White Sox.
.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com

red pen – It should be “sea” (as in ocean) not “see”. See enchanted, I make the stupid mistakes, which have nothing to do with dangling participles, adverbs or apostrophes to show possession – LOL!!! :))

———————————
Frank and Jamie McCourt arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday morning for the first day of their divorce trial.

Jamie McCourt, wearing a white dress and sunglasses, arrived at the courthouse in downtown L.A. surrounded by a horde of reporters and cameramen. She declined to comment as she entered the building with her attorneys by her side.

Bypassing reporters, Frank McCourt entered the courthouse through a side door.
———————————-

First of all, who cares what Jamie’s wearing?!! Although, for what it’s worth, she looks so frazzled, she could probably pass for a member of the “unwashed masses” who used to actually fill out Dodger Stadium not so long ago. (seriously, she looks like Brett Summers in a wig).

And doesn’t the entrances of the two say EVERYTHING about their personalities? Jamie walking through the masses and ignoring them, Frank taking a side door so he could avoid contact with undesireables altogether.

“Forward, backward, inward, outward
Come and join the chase
Nothing could be drier
Than a jolly caucus race

Backward, forward, outward, inward
Bottom to the top
Never a beginning,
There can never be a stop

To skipping, hopping, tripping fancy free and gay
Started it tomorrow
But will finish yesterday

‘Round and ’round and ’round we go
Until forevermore
For once we were behind
But now we find we are be-

Forward, backward, inward, outward
Come and join the chase
Nothing could be drier
Than a jolly caucus race!”
– Alice in Wonderland

I had to do it . . . . a new song for Frank and Jamie.
.
“The Team Is Mine”

Frank: Every night they walk right in my dreams
Since I bought them from the start
I’m so proud I am the only one
Who is special in their hearts
.
The team is mine
The Dodgers team is mine
I know they?re mine
Because the Dodgers team Is mine
.
Jamie: I don’t understand the way you think
Saying that they?re yours not mine
Raising prices and your silly dreams
Really just a waste of time
.
Because they?re mine
The Dodgers team is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the Dodgers team is mine
.
I love them more than he
(Tho? they?re losing everywhere)
.
Frank: But I love them endlessly
(No loving we will share)
.
So just go away
To another town
.
Jamie: But we both cannot have them
So it’s one or the other
And one day you’ll discover
That they?re my team forever and ever
.
I don’t build your hopes to be let down
‘Cause I really feel it’s time
.
Frank: Telling you now that I’m the one for them
‘Cause I sneezed and blew my mind
The team is mine
The Dodgers team is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the Dodgers team is mine
.
Jamie: No, No, No, they?re mine
The team is mine, The team is mine
The team is mine, The team is mine
.
Frank: The team is mine, (Yep) they?re mine
The team is mine, (Yep) they?re mine
.
Jamie: Don’t waste your time
Because the Dodgers team is mine
The team is mine, The team is mine
.
Frank, we’re not going to fight about this, okay
.
Jamie, I think I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter
.
I’ve heard it all before, Frank
The driver told me he?s my forever lover, you know, don’t you remember
.
Frank: Well, after loving me, I understand that you could love another
.
Jamie: Is that what I said
.
Frank: Yes, you said it, you keep dreaming
.
Jamie: I don’t believe it
.
Frank/Jamie: The team is mine (mine, mine, mine)

Good afternoon all! I agree with Emma that Manny did bring a lot to this team for a while, but the time for both sides to part has come, and wish Manny the best. Now let’s concentrate on our boys, and hope they can pull off a miracle! Also, I am officially signed up for the tour, and will at least see Emma there! I hope you all are doing well!

How unfitting for any player’s last at bat with a team to be an ejection for arguing the first pitch of the at bat! Manny, thanks for the excitement of 2008. I am disappointed that excitement did not carry over to 2009 and even more disappointed that the happy go lucky fun loving Manny changed into something quite different. I don’t fault the Dodgers for taking a chance signing Manny after the 2008 season but clearly the PED suspension puts a pall on that decision. So once again a high level free agent signing does not pay off. The only ones who come out ahead are the players and their agents.

Hi Everybody
And farewell to Manny.
The Dodgers have their backs against the wall.
And worst than that, they’re playing the Phillies.
Let’s hope they aren’t as negative as I. If so the games are already over, and they’re swept.
They have to feel they can beat the Phillies or any other team for that matter.
They gotta have HEART.
GO DODGERS!!!

There are so many stories about Manny on-line tonight, but the only hatchet jobs are from columnists. Dodger players have nothing but good things to say; they wish him well and thank him for being a great teammate. Sad day all around.

I have enjoyed the Manny experience but it was time for him to go. Obviously his range in left field is limited but I have always thought he played smart and caught the balls he could get to. There were a few times guys took an extra base due to his lack of speed but most of the time when he took his time getting to the ball and getting it back in it would have been a double anyway despite the fact that it made him look lazy or uncaring. A Repko-esque mad dash into the wall and firing the ball back would have yielded the same result most of the time.
It will be interesting to see if he can DH until October without pulling another muscle.
.
It will take a lot of good luck for the Dodgers to get to the Wild Card… but stranger things have happened. I like the speed that Pods and Theriot have brought. If they can improve the BA with RISP, they may have a chance.
.
The main thing we have to root for in the next few weeks is for a new owner that is already wealthy enough not to use the Dodgers for his own personal piggy bank.

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